Biological treatment of explosive contaminated wastewaters. (Water Quality and Treatment 02:00 PM, Saturday, April 5, 2003 Brewer/Frost Science 138 Dr. Yung-Tse Hung-Presiding).

Hung, Yung-Tse ; Mer'eb, Muhammad Musa

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This paper describes a study on the-treatment of explosive contaminated wastewaters by biological treatment processes. The objective of the study was to determine the removal efficiency of organic pollutant from explosive contaminated wastewater by biological treatment method. Treatment methods of explosive contaminated wastewaters consists of biological treatment processes and physicochemical treatment processes, which include activated carbon adsorption and UV destruction. A two-stage treatment system consisting of anoxic reactor followed by aerobic reactor was used in the study. The anoxic stage was used to remove nitrate by denitrification, while the aerobic stage is used for organic pollutant removal by aerobic bacteria. The raw wastewater had 150 mg/L DOC (dissolved organic carbon), 25 mg/L RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-nitro-1,3,5-triazine), and 450 mg/L nitrate. Fill and draw mode was used in the study. The hydraulic detention time was about 10 days in both anoxic and aerobic reactor. The sludge age was longer than 30 days for both reactors. MLVSS (mixed liquor volatile suspended solids) was 760 and 2680 mg/L in the anoxic and aerobic reactor, respectively. Results indicated that the anoxic reactor effluent contained 350 mg/L DOC, 1.1 mg/L nitrate, 2.1 mg/L nitrite, and 7.4 mg/L RDX. The aerobic reactor effluent contained 60.8 mg/L DOC, 1.7 mg/L nitrate, 1.8 mg/ L nitrite, and less than 0.5 mg/L RDX. The 2-stage biological treatment process was effective in removing pollutants from explosive containing wastewaters.

YUNG-TSE HUNG Y.HUNG@CSUOHIO.EDU AND MUHAMMAD MUSA MER'EB MEREB7@YAHOO.COM, CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEPT, CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY, CLEVELAND OH 44115-2224